Pallet

ABSTRACT

A pallet ( 1 ) includes a deck ( 2 ) having upper and lower surfaces ( 4,6 ) and a plurality of legs ( 8 ) depending from the lower surface of the deck ( 2 ) to support the deck above the ground. A plurality of apertures ( 10 ) are provided in the upper surface of the deck ( 2 ). The apertures ( 10 ) are arranged to receive the legs of a second pallet ( 1   a ) so that the second pallet can be stacked on the pallet ( 1 ) in a nested condition. A plurality of closure elements ( 12 ) are associated with the apertures ( 10 ), each said closure element being adjustable to selectively open or close the respective aperture.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pallet and in particular to a palletthat can be stacked with other pallets of a similar kind in a spacesaving nested configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional pallets, made from wood or plastics materials, cannotnormally be stacked in a nested condition. The empty pallets thereforetake up a considerable amount of space when stacked, leading to highstorage and transportation costs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet thatmitigates the aforesaid disadvantages and, in particular, that can bestacked in a nested condition. The term “nested” as used herein isdefined to mean a condition in which two pallets can be stacked so thatthe distance between the centres of the pallets is less than the heightof an individual pallet.

Further desirable (but not essential) objectives of the invention are toprovide a pallet having a substantially smooth and/or continuous topdeck surface having no large apertures, which is strong and capable ofsupporting heavy loads, and which when stacked in a column with othersimilar pallets, cannot move laterally relative to the other pallets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a pallet includinga deck having upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of legs dependingfrom the lower surface of the deck to support the deck above the ground,a plurality of apertures in the upper surface of the deck arranged toreceive the legs of a second pallet so that the second pallet can bestacked on the pallet in a nested condition, and a plurality of closureelements associated with the apertures, each said closure element beingadjustable to selectively open or close the respective aperture.

The invention allows the empty pallets to be stacked in a nestedcondition, thereby significantly reducing the space occupied by thestacked pallets and providing for savings in storage and transportationcosts. The closure elements allow the apertures to be closed when thepallet is being used to transport goods, so allowing bulk goods to becarried and preventing small items from falling into the apertures. Thepallet can also have large, strong legs, allowing heavy loads to becarried. When the pallets are stacked in a nested condition and the legsof the upper pallet are received in the apertures of the lower pallet,sideways movement of one pallet relative to the other is prevented,increasing the stability of the stacked pallets.

Advantageously, the apertures are aligned with the legs, so that when asecond pallet is stacked on the pallet in a nested condition, the legsof the second pallet are received partially within the legs of thepallet. This allows a considerable space saving to be achieved, forexample typically 30% and possibly 50% or more.

The legs are preferably tapered, so that the legs of a second pallet fitwithin the legs of the first pallet. The legs may include supportstructures for supporting the legs of a second pallet.

Advantageously, the closure elements comprise pivotable doors,preferably hinged doors. The closure elements may be constructed andarranged such that when closed, they are substantially flush with theupper surface of the deck, which is ideal for carrying bulk goods.

Advantageously, each leg is substantially U-shaped, comprising two sidemembers and a substantially horizontal foot member, which allows forconvenient stacking and provides a large “footprint” to the supportingground surface.

The pallet preferably comprises a plastics moulding.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pallet with the closure elements in a closedcondition.

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the pallet.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the pallet from above.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a pallet with the closure elements in an openconfiguration.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the pallet with the closure elements inan open configuration.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view at an enlarged scale, showing one of theclosure elements in an open configuration.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view from below at an enlarged scale, showing aleg of the pallet.

FIG. 8 is a partially cut away isometric view, showing two palletsstacked in a nested condition.

FIG. 9 is a side section, showing two pallets stacked in a nestedcondition.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view showing two pallets stacked in a nestedcondition.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view from below, showing two pallets stacked ina nested condition.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view showing two pallets stacked in an unnestedconfiguration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The pallet 1 shown in the accompanying drawings is formed as a plasticsmoulding and includes a substantially planar deck 2 having an uppersurface 4 and a lower surface 6. Four legs 8 depend from the lowersurface 6 of the deck, to support the deck above the ground. Fourapertures 10 are provided in the upper surface 4 of the deck, eachaperture being aligned with one of the legs 8. A closure element 12 isassociated with each aperture 10, and is connected to the deck 2 bymeans of a hinge 14. A pattern of non-slip elements 16 is provided inthe upper surface 4 of the deck 2. The non-slip elements 16 may forexample consist of deformable rubber buttons mounted in cylindricalrecesses in the upper surface of the deck 2.

The deck 2 is substantially rectangular in shape, and is typicallyapproximately 1200 mm long and 1000 mm wide. A peripheral wall 18extends around the sides of the deck 2. The upper surface 4 of the deckis substantially planar, having no apertures extending through it, apartfrom the four apertures 10 associated with the closure elements 12.Underneath the upper surface 4, the deck is reinforced by an array ofribs 20 (see FIG. 7).

Each closure element 12 consists of a trap door, which is connected tothe deck 2 by means of a hinge 14. The hinge 14 extends along one edgeof the closure element 12 and allows the closure element to be pivotedbetween an opened position as shown in FIG. 5, in which the closureelement lies on top of the deck, and a closed position as shown in FIG.3, in which it sits in the associated aperture 12, so that the topsurface of the closure element 12 lies flush with the upper surface 4 ofthe deck 2. When the closure element 12 is closed, the edge furthestfrom the hinge 14 rests on a ledge 22 provided within the aperture 10(see FIGS. 6 and 9).

When all the closure elements 14 are closed, the upper surface 4 of thedeck 2 is solid, having no apertures into which small items can fall.

Each leg 8 is substantially U-shaped, comprising two substantiallyvertical side members 24 and a horizontal foot member 26 that extendsbetween and connects the side members 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 7). The sidemembers 24 are tapered, becoming gradually narrower in both length andwidth towards their lower ends. Each side member 24 includes an outerwall 28 and an inner wall 30, which are interconnected by a set of crossmembers 32 (see FIGS. 5 to 7). The inner wall 30 is partially cut awayat its upper end, forming a recess 34 in each side member 24 towards theupper end of the leg. This recess 34 is shaped to accommodate the lowerpart of the leg of a second pallet 1 a when stacked on top of the firstpallet I in a nested condition, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11.

When stacked in the nested condition, each leg 8 a of the upper secondpallet 1 a extends through the corresponding aperture 10 of the lowerfirst pallet 1 and is received within the recess 34, so that it rests onthe inner walls 30 of the side members 24. In this condition, thedistance between the centres of the stacked pallets is approximately 30%less than the height of each individual pallet, thus providing aconsiderable saving in space. In addition, the stacked pallets aremechanically joined to one another, thus preventing a column of stackedpallets from sliding relative to one another, for example duringtransportation.

Alternatively, the pallets 1, 1 a can be stacked in an un-nestedcondition as shown in FIG. 12, by stacking the pallets with the closureelements 12, 12 a in a closed position. In this condition, the distancebetween the centres of the adjacent pallets 1, 1 a is substantiallyequal to the height of a pallet.

1. A pallet comprising a deck having upper and lower surfaces, aplurality of legs depending from the lower surface of the deck tosupport the deck, a plurality of apertures in the upper surface of thedeck arranged to receive the legs of a second pallet so that the secondpallet can be stacked on the pallet in a nested condition, and aplurality of closure elements associated with the apertures, each saidclosure element being adjustable to selectively open or close therespective aperture.
 2. A pallet according to claim 1, in which theapertures are aligned with the legs, so that when a second pallet isstacked on the pallet in a nested condition, the legs of the secondpallet are received partially within the legs of the pallet.
 3. A palletaccording to claim 1, in which the legs are tapered.
 4. A palletaccording to claim 1, in which the legs include support structures forsupporting the legs of a second pallet.
 5. A pallet according to claim1, in which the closure elements comprise pivotable doors.
 6. A palletaccording to claim 5, in which the closure elements comprise hingeddoors.
 7. A pallet according to claim 5, in which the closure elementsare constructed and arranged such that when closed, they aresubstantially flush with the upper surface of the deck.
 8. A palletaccording to claim 1, in which each leg is substantially U-shaped,comprising two side members and a substantially horizontal foot member.9. A pallet according to claim 1, in which the pallet comprises aplastics moulding.